Ahead of the FIBA WC's Team USA debut, HC Steve Kerr heartfelt message about Kobe's legacy

August 24 is a special day for Los Angeles Lakers fans, as the number of the day and the month are the same that the late great Kobe Bryant wore on his time with the purple and gold.

Many people in the NBA have spoken about what made the Lakers legend great, what separated him from others, like his "mamba mentality," but one opinion that has surprised the fans comes from thousands of miles away from LA and USA as the Team USA head coach Steve Kerr offered a heartfelt message about Kobe.

Kerr, during a press conference in Manila ahead of Team USA's 2023 FIBA World Cup matchup against New Zealand, spoke about his memories with Kobe and what the Basketball Hall of Famer meant to everyone.

"I have great memories of playing against him and then coaching against him late in his career. To have the good fortune to be in the NBA at the same time as one of the all-time greats, watch him, and compete against him was special. We all think about Kobe to this day and everything he meant to the league and all of us.”

Austin Reaves and Team USA are close to having their FIBA World Cup debut

After having a 5-0 record in their pre-FIBA World Cup games, Austin Reaves and Team USA are getting closer to having their debut in the competition in less than two days vs. New Zealand. Team USA has a young roster but they already have shown to be very talented and hungry for victory.